Just this past Monday Taylor Nowaskie, a senior basketball player at Olympia High School, broke Olympia’s all-time career scoring record and took over the number one spot. A little over a week earlier Taylor also passed her mom, Mandy (Bryan) Nowaskie who was in second on the leaderboard. Taylor described these moments as “unbelievable” stating that “passing my mom on the list definitely made it so much more special for me.”

Taylor has been playing basketball for 12 years now, starting in 1st grade. When she hit her freshman and sophomore year Taylor hadn’t thought much of the record or had much of a goal to break it. It wasn’t until junior year that she realized just how attainable it was. Covid made her begin to doubt if she could reach it as half of her junior season was lost. But, as she began her senior season, the doubt washed away. She made it a goal of hers to break the record, having a successful junior and senior season pushing her towards the goal. 

This wasn’t just a special moment for Taylor but also one for her mom. Taylor stated that her mom is “extremely proud of [her] and everything [she has] accomplished in [her] career.” Her mom coached her throughout the years so seeing her daughter pass her on the leaderboard, and watching her take first was a “very special moment to share with her.” Her coach Courtney Hoffman has been just as supportive. Taylor described her as “one of the most supportive people in [her] life and she has helped [her] grow so much.”

Outside of basketball, Taylor is a three-sport athlete and also participates in Student Council, National Honors Society, and 4-H. She is excited for what the future will hold as she takes on college basketball at Lincoln Land. Taylor is also set on breaking the boy’s scoring record too. She still has some season to go, especially with her goal to be a regional champion, so she has a good chance of becoming both the girl’s and boy’s basketball career scoring leader.